Vintage NOBLET bass Clarinet from the G. Leblanc workshop in France ; serial #15,449 (mid 1990's ? )
Our clarinet has perfect original nickel plating to the keywork, range to low Eb with trouble free-register mechanism.
- No "joint wobble", tenons in excellent shape, no pull down.
- No cracks to the wood, all new pads and corks
- Set includes: NEW BAM (made in France ) Case, Mouthpiece
- Our bass is, in our opinion, a superior instrument for a best-buy price.
*** Note, please....
From the mid-fifties to the early 20th century, the G.LeBlanc firm produced several different models of bass clarinets.
The professional models were marketed as "model 40"; a few of the "model 500, LL design" were also built...same clarinet but with slightly wider bore.
The "Noblet" models all were built in the LeBlanc workshop in LaCouture, a bit west of Paris. The French workshop closed up a dozen or more years ago, when owner Leon Pascucci sold the firm to "Conn-Selmer division of Steinway Properties".
The Noblet bass production then moved to Elkhart, Indiana and were re-branded "LeBlanc" or "LeBlanc Esprit".
But please note...our opinion, please...the French instruments are FAR superior to the USA-built machines. The keywork on the LeBlanc/Noblet basses is strong, well-designed and beautiful. And they stay in adjustment well.
Mind you, we're not of the opinion that the USA LeBlancs are bad, it's just that the French are SO MUCH better.
Lots of Noblet basses were sold in the States, almost all of them to schools. Our bass is super-clean, shows no signs of having been school-owned.
One more comment... The Noblet basses and the LeBlanc model 400's were both built in the same factory. And, in our opinion, the Noblets make more sense. The register-key mechanism is simpler, easier to keep in proper adjustment. And I ( we ) can tell no difference in sound, intonation or resonance between the two models.
*** Clarinet question? DO yes, please write us! Always happy to hear from clari-folks.
*****GR/Wichita
HG